Flames narrow competition for final roster spot to four players

EDMONTON – One game left and one open spot.

That’s what the exhibition season has boiled down to for the handful of hopefuls still in the mix for an opening night spot amongst the Calgary Flames’ forward ranks.

Because of injuries to Jakob Pelletier and Kevin Rooney in camp, the search is still on for the Flames' 12th man up front.

Matt Coronato’s first pro training camp has been sublime, locking him up a spot in the top six.

Walker Duehr is a lock for the fourth line, but who will play on his opposite wing, or up the middle on the fourth unit, is up for grabs.    

With an eye on making some final cuts in the next few days, the Flames took a squad full of youngsters to Edmonton Wednesday, where they wanted to see how the final candidates fared as they gun for a spot on a line designed to add energy and defensive dependency.

Here’s how the top four hopefuls fared (and odds of them making it to the opening night lineup):

Dryden Hunt (2-to-1)

The 27-year-old winger is the leading candidate to start the season on the left side, by virtue of the fact he’s played 202 NHL games, including stints with the Leafs, Rangers and Panthers last year alone.

Coach Ryan Huska emphasized before the game he needs to have trust he can utilize young players to “keep the game simple and do things the right way.”

Hunt understands that.

“First of all you’ve got to be reliable - a coach can’t worry when he puts you on the ice,” said the undrafted WHL standout, who stands 6-foot, 193 pounds.

“It’s also about being good on the forecheck, hounding pucks and wearing their defencemen down. And whenever the fourth line can chip in it’s a huge weight off their shoulders.”

Hunt has two goals and a helper in five preseason games and led all skaters with seven hits in Wednesday’s 7-2 loss to a star-studded Oilers team.

He had some chemistry with Dillon Dube, while Sam Honzek left the game after the first period with an injury and was deemed day-to-day after the contest.  

He also spent plenty of time trying to kill penalties against the game’s best power-play unit. 

Defensively he wasn’t happy with his game against Winnipeg on Friday, but he felt much better about his outing in Edmonton, despite finishing minus-2.

“I thought Dryden was competitive again tonight,” said Huska.

“He’s working, and I find maybe, at times, a step off, but very competitive.”

As background, Hunt had almost a point a game with the Wranglers over 26 regular season and playoff games after being traded to the Flames late in the season. 

Connor Zary (5-to-2)

The Flames first-round pick in 2020 has had a good camp, with an eye on anchoring the middle of the fourth unit.

He was involved plenty all night, between Martin Pospisil and Walker Duehr, drawing a second assist on the latter’s goal.

He too has two goals in four outings and is a healthy plus-4, earning him a chance to be on the first power-play unit Monday.

“I didn’t mind Zary tonight,” said Huska of the third-year pro, who was the lone Flame to finish plus on the night. 

“I thought he was in and around the puck and we used him in the middle, on the wall.”

“Is Connor a fourth-line centre? To me, probably not. He’s more suited to be in a different role. But in order to be in the NHL on a full-time basis you may have to do that, so that means changing your game and being a harder guy in certain situations.

“Having the ability to play both gives us a lot of flexibility and it’s nice to be able to see him do that.”

He is, unquestionably, the favourite to start the season as the 13th man.  

Adam Klapka (7-to-2)

Was one of the best players in Penticton for the Young Stars tourney but hasn’t had the sort of impact they hoped the 6-foot-7, 235-pound winger would have in main camp.

He isn’t afraid to stand up for teammates, but it’s likely the club would like to see him continue his growth with a second year with the Wranglers.

That doesn’t mean he couldn’t start the season as the Flames 13^th forward, or as one of its first callups.

“He rumbled around like he always does,” said Huska.

“He gets in the way, he held the puck in the offensive zone a little bit. I felt like he kept his game simple, which is what we want out of him.”

Cole Schwindt (9-to-2)

The 22-year-old third-rounder was part of the Matthew Tkachuk trade, landing the six-foot-two, 182-pound forward in Calgary where he spent the whole year with the Wranglers, scoring 14 goals and 32 points.

“Tonight was a tougher night for him,” said Huska, of Schwindt, who won four of 12 faceoffs while playing on the fourth unit with Lucas Ciona and Klapka.

“Tonight was a night I was hoping he’d be really good in the faceoff circle.

“He’s performed well for us so far in exhibition. Tonight probably wasn’t one of his best.”
The Flames final tuneup game goes Friday in Vancouver where we will likely find out who the 12^th man will be.

NOTES: 

• Huska confirmed Jakob Pelletier underwent successful shoulder surgery earlier this week.

 “Everything went really well,” he said of the popular winger.

“Knowing him, he’ll be buzzing around the room before we know it. He’ll be a few months to recover from surgery for sure.”

• Kevin Rooney was injured in practice this week and Huska said, “Kevin Rooney will not be short term. Like, you won’t see him next week.”

• Dennis Gilbert returned to play after a head injury early in the pre-season and is still the favourite to open the season as the team’s seventh defenceman, behind Jordan Oesterle.

• A memorial service for Flames AGM Chris Snow will be held Thursday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic Community.  

• Alberta premier Danielle Smith is expected to provide an update on the Flames’ new arena on Thursday.

• Dustin Wolf was the backup for Dan Vladar on Wednesday, but it’s clear the youngster will start the season in the minors.

“I don’t anticipate carrying three goalies,” said Huska.